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A stand to lose relationships that have been developed with their neighbors when acquisition takes place; but overall, everyone in the area is planning to relocate in Ramsey. James Klosterman - 16333 Jaspar Street N.W. - Stated he is a resident of Ramsey, a pilot, and in favor of airport improvements. The proposed i~provements will enhance the safety factors to pilots and residents. Mr o Klosterman stated that he has reviewed the environmental assessment and it clearly points out that the improved facility will be of economic value to the City and it will be of s~e importance to the metro area as a whole as more and more people utilize air transportation. John Mueller - 14650 Bowers Drive N.W. - Stated he is a strong supporter of the airport but he doesn't use the facility very often. Mr. Mueller stated that he would like to see Gateway improved and he and his fellow pilots would like to spend their dollars in Ramsey. Mr. Mueller stated that he read in the U.S. News last week that two upcoming shortages in the U.S. are airports and pilots. Mr. Mueller stated improvements at Gateway will make it possible for that facility to continue to produce good pilots. People looking to the future are already saying that large airports are obsolete; it is difficult to get to the larger airports and the smaller airports will function to funnel passengers to the larger facilities. Airports and aircraft will play a role in the future and it is only a matter of whether or not Ramsey wants to be a part of that future. Mr. Mueller stated that he has been flying for 26 years and has not even come close to having an accident; that is no accident because most people in the sky tend to be very careful. Mr. Mueller noted that even though people are opposed to airport improvements, aircraft are going to play more and more roles in our lives. Example: grass fire by Brooks Market on Hwy. #10 and Cty. Rd. ~83; firefighters were able to contain the fire largely because of their hard work and special help from a helicopter. Virgil Barnes - 5415 151st Avenue N.W. - Mr. Barnes stated that he has been operating Gateway for ~bout 4-1/2 years and he can attest to the facts and figures for operating off a dirt runway. Mr. Barnes stated that a major factor in not attracting more business clients to the facility is the fact that the airport has a dirt'runway. If there were a hard surface runway, there would be more business use (not jets, not large twin engine aircraft) of the facility. Mr. Barnes stated that he can think of 22 businesses that use the airport; he has loaned his personal car to itinerant passengers to use to tour other businesses in Ramsey. Mr. Barnes stated he is in favor of seeing Gateway improved for better and safer utility of the facility. Eugene Walters - 14310 Sunfish Lake Blvd. - Mr. Walters stated he is a local business owner of Waltek and he is concerned that the airport will be improved. Mr. Walters stated that he has customers and service people that fly in and use Gateway. The airport is convenient, it keeps the doors of his company open and keeps the customers coming. Mr. Walters noted some of the businesses that have located in Ramsey because of the airport: Sharp Specialities, Inc., American Shredded Paper and Soderholm and Associates. Mr. Walters stated that improving Gateway will draw more business to the area ess to the area; the proposed improvements are very important to Waltek. Airport Commission Public Hearing/April 14, 1988 Page 4 of 5